We've been building cargo.one around a simple principle: structured, complete rate data first, then automation on top.
Back in 2018, we launched the industry's first e-booking platform for air freight. Over time, we added spot rates from 75+ airlines, static rates from over 300 carriers, gateway and consol rates, a digital agent network surfacing import rates in real time, and in 2023, a comprehensive quoting suite on top. Today, over 28,000 users across 172 countries rely on cargo.one for air freight procurement, quoting, e-booking, and more — including 8 of the world's top 20 freight forwarders.
Last year, with that foundation in place, we introduced AI-powered quoting — automating the manual, mechanical steps that freight forwarders repeat dozens of times a day, such as extracting shipment details and collecting rates. And we saw what’s possible with AI, when you do it right: 68% faster quote turnaround and 89% accuracy on automated quotes. Today we're taking the next step.
One platform, all modes
One clear thread has emerged from conversations with our customers: freight forwrers want air and ocean in one platform. One place to manage rates, build quotes, and run their sales and procurement across modes. Their TMS haven't delivered on this — leaving teams to juggle disconnected tools, spreadsheets, and manual workarounds. That's the gap we've been building to close.
Cargofive joins cargo.one
"Having the best solutions for air and ocean joining forces as one platform is game-changing."
Nacho Roche, CEO at Cotransa
Today, we're announcing that cargo.one has acquired Cargofive, the ocean rate management and quoting platform trusted by hundreds of forwarders globally. This adds direct connections to leading ocean carriers and scalable ocean rate data — SPOT, FAK, NAC, and contract rates across millions of trade lanes — to our existing air freight foundation.
Cargofive is a great fit because they solved the ocean rate problem the same way we solved the air rate problem: by building real infrastructure, not shortcuts. Sebastián, Cargofive's Founder, says it best: "Forwarders are asking for integrated air and ocean solutions that eliminate data silos. cargo.one has already set the standard in air. Together, we are bringing that same quality and scale to ocean freight, creating a truly multimodal operating foundation."
"cargo.one has already set the standard in air. Together, we are bringing that same quality and scale to ocean freight, creating a truly multimodal operating foundation."
Sebastián Cazajus, VP Ocean at cargo.one
This is echoed by many of our customers globally, among them Nacho Roche at Cotransa: "As we digitalized our operations, we selected cargo.one for air freight and Cargofive for ocean, and both revolutionized how we work. Having the best solutions for air and ocean joining forces as one platform is game-changing."
From data foundation to AI-native operating system
Unifying air and ocean rate data isn't just about having a broader database. It's the infrastructure that supports a fundamentally better way of operating.
"Data and AI are inseparable — quality data is the foundation for quality AI. When AI workflows operate using the same reliable data our people use daily, we can confidently deploy automation and focus on delivering the best customer experiences."
Stefan Borggreve, Member of the Management Board at Hellmann Worldwide Logistics
Freight forwarders have invested heavily in technology over the past decade, but fragmented systems and unreliable data have made it difficult to move net margins beyond 3–8% or see a return on those investments.
And this extends to AI. McKinsey's State of AI 2025 survey found that fewer than one in four organizations have successfully scaled AI to production. Every week there's a new vendor with an impressive demo, but the gap between demo and deployment is where most investments die. The reason is usually the same: the AI lacks access to real operational data, and it's built by teams without deep industry expertise.
At cargo.one, we've spent a decade working alongside freight forwarders and carriers — building integrations, understanding rate structures, learning the operational nuances. We built the data foundation first, then built the AI directly into it. Not bolt-on tools calling out to external data sources. Not a separate system to maintain. Not AI that gives your customers different answers than your own team would. An AI-native operating system for logistics. Because models expire, but infrastructure compounds.
Stefan Borggreve, Member of the Management Board at Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, captures it well: "Data and AI are inseparable — quality data is the foundation for quality AI. cargo.one has built a comprehensive operating system that our teams trust. When AI workflows operate using the same reliable data our people use daily, we can confidently deploy automation and focus on delivering the best customer experiences."
To accelerate this work, we've raised around $20M from investors led by Bessemer Venture Partners.
AI that augments your team
So what does this look like in practice?
Your team still handles complex shipments, unusual routing, high-value customers, and exceptions every day — and they need to work in the same platform as your AI workflows. Otherwise, you're maintaining two systems and dealing with the inconsistencies that inevitably follow.
cargo.one's AI workflows operate in the same workspace as your people, on the same data, under their control. The AI handles the repetitive work; your team handles the work that requires judgment. One platform, one source of truth. Everything syncs back to your TMS through integrations with all major TMS, including those of WiseTech and Descartes. Your data stays isolated, every AI decision is logged and auditable, and all infrastructure is GDPR-compliant and aligned with ISO 27001 controls.
You control the pace. Start with AI preparing outputs for your team to review. Move to AI handling routine work autonomously while flagging exceptions. Expand as you build trust.
What's next
We're excited to continue leading this transformation and work closely with our customers as AI reshapes our industry, and this is just the beginning.
If you're a freight forwarder looking to consolidate your air and ocean operations onto one platform, or ready to put AI to work on your rate management, rate procurement, sales, quoting, or customer support workflows, get in touch.
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